Creative Scotland Open Fund for Individuals

The Open Fund for Individuals is one of Creative Scotland's key funding programmes. It supports the wide range of activity started by artists, writers, producers and other creative practitioners living in Scotland, with an overall annual budget of £5 million. You can apply for between £500 and £50,000 for periods of research, development or delivery of creative work, such as specific projects and productions lasting up to 24 months. There is no deadline: the fund is open all year.

The fund can also pay for your own time, as long as it is linked to specific creative outcomes.

What the Fund Supports

• Research into new ideas, subjects or ways of working
• Development of a body of work, a skill or a collaboration
• Delivery of a project, production, exhibition or publication

Who Can Apply to the Open Fund for Individuals?

Freelance and self-employed artists and creative practitioners who live in Scotland and are at least 18 years old. You must have a UK bank account in your legal name. Organisations, and individuals who are not self-employed or sole traders, may be eligible for the separate National Lottery Open Fund for Organisations instead.

How Long Decisions Take

• £500 to £20,000: usually 10 weeks
• £20,001 to £50,000: usually 14 weeks

Because of the festive break, applications of up to £20,000 submitted between the end of October and 24 December 2026 will hear back in 12 weeks. Your project's start date must come after the date you will receive a decision, so plan ahead.

How to Apply

Download the guidance for applicants, check your eligibility, and apply through Creative Scotland's online portal. The guidance explains what to include and how applications are assessed.

Writing a Strong Application

Be clear about what you want to do, why, and what it will lead to creatively. Show how the activity will develop your practice and who might benefit, such as audiences, participants or collaborators. Build a realistic budget that includes your time at a fair rate, materials and any partners' costs, and show other income where you have it. The fund is competitive, so specific plans and good supporting material make a difference.

Who It Suits

The fund suits artists across disciplines: visual artists, photographers, illustrators, makers, designers, writers and more. It can support a short research period of a few months or a major project over two years.

Other Creative Scotland Support

Creative Scotland also runs an Open Fund for Organisations. Check its funding pages for the option that fits your activity best.

Planning Your Timeline

Because the start date of your activity must be after the decision date, count back from when you want to begin. A request of up to £20,000 needs at least ten weeks, or twelve over the festive period, and a larger request needs fourteen. If your activity is tied to a fixed date, such as an exhibition opening or a festival, apply well in advance so the decision arrives in time. Keep your plans flexible in case the outcome is delayed.

Supporting Material

Choose supporting material that shows the quality of your work and is relevant to your plans, such as images, recordings, writing samples or links to past projects. Keep it focused: a few strong, well-labelled examples are more useful to assessors than a long portfolio. If you are working with partners, include letters confirming their involvement.

Things to Consider

• Scotland-based practitioners only.
• £500 to £50,000.
• Start after the decision date.
• Open all year.

Apply to the Fund

Planning research or a new project in Scotland?

Apply to the Open Fund for Individuals

Guidance and the online portal are on the Creative Scotland website.

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Last verified: November 4, 2026